Ventura Mayor Addresses Club

Posted by Sandy Warren

on Jan 05, 2016

Ventura Mayor Erik Nasarenko

Presents "State of the City"

Our speaker on Monday, January 4, was the Honorable Erik Nasarenko, Mayor of the beautiful City of Ventura. He presented a brief "State of the City" address, then took questions from members and guests of Ventura Rotary South.

Mayor Nasarenko noted that Ventura is the oldest city in the County, having been incorporated in 1866. (The City is gearing up for its 150th birthday celebration this year.) Among the impacts of the City's age is the older infrastructure. "An example," said the Mayor, "is the damage to our pier that occurred during the recent high waves that pounded the coastline." This, of course, can be challenging from the standpoint of City finances, although Mayor Nasarenko pointed out that Ventura has had successive balance budgets in recent years."

"One of my goals is to raise the sales tax in Ventura to address many of the infrastructure challenges we face as a City," said the Mayor. An added penny of sales tax on each dollar would go directly to City services, as opposed to County and State obligations that consume the bulk of existing sales tax revenue." Among the Mayor's other goals is the establishment of a community center and library at the Community Park at the corner of Kimball and Telephone Roads.